Practicing the Presence of Jesus by Wally Armstrong

 



About Practicing the Presence of Jesus:

Experience the Gift of His Friendship

Do you want to experience Jesus as real? When we look at Jesus' life on earth, we see Him calling people to simply know Him. He made no demand on them to believe theological propositions. "Follow me" was the invitation which they accepted. They got to know and communicate with the real person. There is a big difference between believing something is true and experiencing it as real. This is the story of how Wally Armstrong learned to communicate with the real person of Jesus in his everyday life. Armstrong experiences Jesus up close and personal and introduces readers to the same experience. In a conversational manner, he explores what it is like to have a relationship with Jesus as if He is sitting right there next to us. He keeps an empty chair ready and imagines Jesus sitting beside him as they talk.

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/erBu0

Meet Wally:

Wally Armstrong is a professional golfer, teacher and dynamic life coach who has competed in over 300 PGA Tour events, including the British Open, the US Open, and the Masters, and was awarded a lifetime membership in the Tour. In his first Masters appearance, Wally finished in fifth place, setting a rookie record for the lowest tournament score of eight under par. As a golf instructor and clinician, Armstrong has taught golf all over the world and has produced more than twenty golf instructional videos and DVDs covering every area of the golf game. He is the author of seven books, including the bestselling In His Grip (with Jim Sheard and Billy Graham) and The Mulligan (with Ken Blanchard). He resides in Maitland, Florida, and has been married to his wife, Debbie, for forty-one years. Together, they have three children and seven grandchildren. Armstrong invites readers to visit his website, www.oldprobooks.com, for more insights about the wonderful opportunity each of us has to know Jesus as the real person that he is.

Find out more about Wally at http://www.wallyarmstronggolf.com/wallys-world/.

My Take:  Have you ever wanted to have a closer relationship with Jesus?  Have you ever wondered if it truly could be done?  This book helps you realize that you can have a close relationship with Jesus and that he truly wants you to draw closer to him.  Through his personal experience Wally gives you encouragement that you can have a deep and fullfilling Christian walk by Practicing the Presence of Jesus in your everyday life.  

I received a review copy from Lit fuse Publicity in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Soul's Gate by James L. Rubart

 

About Soul's Gate: 

Book 1 in the Well Spring series.

"Every now and then we get a break from reality. A glimpse into the other world that is more real than the reality we live in 99 percent of our days. The Bible is about a world of demons and angels and great evil and even greater glory."

What if you could travel inside another person's soul? To battle for them. To be part of Jesus healing their deepest wounds. To help set them free to step boldly into their divinely designed future.

Thirty years ago that's exactly what Reece Roth did. Until tragedy shattered his life and ripped away his future.

Now God has drawn Reece out of the shadows to fulfill a prophecy spoken over him three decades ago. A prophecy about four warriors with the potential to change the world . . . if Reece will face his deepest regret and teach them what he has learned.

They gather at a secluded and mysterious ranch deep in the mountains of Colorado, where they will learn to see the spiritual world around them with stunning clarity-and how to step into the supernatural.

Their training is only the beginning. The four have a destiny to pursue a freedom even Reece doesn't fully fathom. But they have an enemy hell-bent on destroying them and he'll stop at nothing to keep them from their quest for true freedom and the coming battle of souls.

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/eGyGA

Meet Jim: James L. Rubart is a professional marketer, speaker, and writer. While being the owner of Barefoot Marketing certainly keeps him on his toes, his passion is writing fiction.

Rubart is an ECPA best-selling author who has been positively reviewed by both Publisher's Weekly and Romantic Times. His first novel, Rooms, won a Best Books 2011 award from USA Book News, as well as a Romantic Times Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award. His debut release was followed by Book of Days and The Chair. Soul's Gate is Rubart's fourth release.

In addition to being an author, Rubart is also a photographer, guitarist, professional speaker, golfer and semi-pro magician. With all of this, he says that he barely sleeps. Rubart lives with his wife and sons in the Pacific Northwest.

Find out more about Jim at http://jimrubart.com/.   

My Take:  Two of my favorite books are This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness by Frank Perretti, now add to that Soul's Gate.  Just like those other two books Soul's Gate brings the concept of spiritual Warfare to front and brings to your attention that every Christian is a warrior in this fight.  This is a fiction book but there is alot of truth spoken in the book.  The characters are easily cared about, which to me is very important because if I don't care about the characters I don't enjoy the book.  This book also shows you how much God cares about you.  There is that saying that even if you were the only person on earth God would have still sent Jesus to die for you.  This is the first in a new series and I am looking forward to the next one.  If you like Peretti books or just books that make you think you will probably like this book. 


I received a review copy from Lit fuse Publicity in exchange for my honest opinion. 

It's Monday What Are You Reading?

It's Monday What are You Reading? is Hosted by Sheila over at Book Journey.  Head over there to see what others are reading.  You may just find out your next great read.

Last week I had to do alot of training for my job so I didn't get my audio books reviewed.  I will have to fit them in over the next couple of weeks.

Here's what happened on the blog last week. 

Book review of

Mother of Pearl by Kellie Coates Gilbert

Book Review of

Autumn Winds by Charlotte Hubbard

Sample Recipes from

The Amish Family Cookbook by Jerry and Tina Eicher

Book Review of

A Merry Little Christmas by Anita Higman


Planned for this week

Book Review of

Soul's Gate by James L. Rubart

Book Review of

Practicing the Presence of Jesus by Wally Armstrong

Book Review of

Boo Who by Rene Gutteridge

First Chapter Peak of

Hidden in the Heart by Catherine West


Book Review of

Courting Cate by Leslie Gould

Audio Review of

I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Audio Review of

Virals by Kathy Reichs


See the Side panel for my current reads.

Coming up

The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann


Susanna's Christmas Wish by Jerry Eicher


Resurrect by David E. Stevens


What's on Your Reading Horizon?

Autumn Winds by Charlotte Hubbard and a short story of where Charlotte got some of her inspiration.

ABOUT CHARLOTTE HUBBARD

I’ve called Missouri home for most of my life, and most folks don’t realize that several Old Older Amish and Mennonite communities make their home here, as well. The rolling pastureland, woods, and small towns along county highways make a wonderful setting for Plain populations—and for stories about them, too! While Jamesport, Missouri is the largest Old Order Amish settlement west of the Mississippi River, other communities have also found the affordable farm land ideal for raising crops, livestock, and running the small family-owned businesses that support their families.

Like my heroine, Miriam Lantz, of my new Seasons of the Heart series, I love to feed people—to share my hearth and home. I bake bread and goodies and I love to try new recipes. I put up jars and jars of green beans, tomatoes, beets and other veggies every summer. All my adult life, I’ve been a deacon, a dedicated church musician and choir member, and we hosted a potluck group in our home for more than twenty years.

Like Abby Lambright, heroine of my new Home at Cedar Creek series, I consider it a personal mission to be a listener and a peacemaker—to heal broken hearts and wounded souls. Faith and family, farming and frugality matter to me: like Abby, I sew and enjoy fabric arts—I made my wedding dress and the one Mom wore, too, when I married into an Iowa farm family more than thirty-five years ago! When I’m not writing, I crochet and sew, and I love to travel.

I recently moved to Minnesota when my husband got a wonderful new job, so now he and I and our border collie, Ramona, are exploring our new state and making new friends.

To find out more about Charlotte, please visit her at www.CharlotteHubbard.com.

Visit her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/charlotte.hubbard1

On Goodreads at:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/53342.Charlotte_Hubbard

ABOUT AUTUMN WINDS

The leaves are falling and there’s a chill in the air in Willow Ridge, Missouri, the quaint, quiet Amish town where love, loyalty, and faith in the Old Ways are about to be put to the test …

AUTUMN WINDS

Winds of change are blowing through Willow Ridge, and they’re bringing a stranger to the Sweet Seasons Bakery. At first, widowed Miriam Lantz has misgivings about Ben Hooley, a handsome but rootless traveling blacksmith. But as she gets to know the kind-hearted newcomer, she wonders if his arrival was providential. Perhaps she could find love again—if only there weren’t so many obstacles in the way. With Bishop Knepp relentlessly pursuing her hand in marriage and the fate of her beloved café at stake, Miriam must listen to God and her heart to find the happiness she longs for and the love she deserves.

My Take:  I really enjoyed the first book in this series and I was glad when I received this book also.  For some reason the cover of this book keeps drawing me back to it time and time again.  I was glad to be back to Willow Ridge and back to Sweet Seasons Bakery.  I could almost smell the aroma of the pies baking and of the other dishes that brings the people to the bakery.  Sometimes I cannot image the arrogance of the Bishop in wanting Miriam as his wife.  He is not worried about anyone but himself.  I like this series because it is not your typical Amish story.  The women in this series have spunk and stand up for them selves.  I would highly recommend this book.

I received a review copy from Pump Up Your Book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Goats by Charlotte Hubbard

You wouldn’t think inspiration for an Amish novel would come from a trip to Lowe’s, but that’s exactly where the idea for the four little goats—and then the two maidelaunts—in AUTUMN WINDS came from!

You see, I was hanging around Lowe’s waiting for my husband to find his home improvement stuff, just gawking at the book and magazine rack to kill time. I was partway into writing this book about Miriam Lantz and her wonderful new love, Ben Hooley . . . Wondering how on earth they were going to get Bishop Hiram Knepp off Miriam’s case, when voila! I spotted a book about raising goats! I didn’t know a thing about goats, and didn’t know how they would play into the story, but instinct told me that if I took that book home I wouldn’t be sorry.

From out of nowhere (which usually means it’s a direct lightning strike from God) I got the idea that goats would be just the diversionary tactic I needed to waylay Hiram’s unwanted attentions—and along with the goats came two old maid school teacher aunts. We all know how you can’t tell those women what to do! And, as it turned out, Hiram Knepp was no match for Jerusalem Hooley and the four little goats she brought him as a gift when she and her sister Nazareth came to Missouri with their nephews, the Hooley brothers.

What followed was sheer magic, and more fun than I’ve ever had with creating characters. From the first moment they appeared on my page, Jerusalem and Nazareth were so alive and so funny—and so outspoken—I knew AUTUMN WINDS wouldn’t be the last story they appeared in. Hiram, too, was more smitten with Jerusalem than he cared to admit . . . Enough that he sort of makes a fool of himself. But then, everyone around Miriam is just grateful that the bishop has backed off, while Hiram’s oldest daughters are glad for the way the Hooley aunts take charge of their four youngest sibs as only old schoolteachers can do.

But because Bishop Knepp has been a villain my readers, my editor, and I love to hate, I certainly couldn’t let his attraction to Jerusalem run the easy, satisfying course. Nope. The arrogant bishop of Willow Ridge will dig himself deeper into trouble in WINTER OF WISHES (comes out 9/13) just as Jerusalem and Nazareth have inspired sweet romances with far more worthy men in AN AMISH COUNTRY CHRISTMAS (comes out 10/13).  

So, see? Who knew, when I entered Lowe’s on that ordinary evening about a year ago, that I would be taking home such extraordinary inspiration for many Willow Ridge story lines to come?  I hope you’ll enjoy the Hooley sisters as well as the fine, fun story Ben Hooley creates with Miriam Lantz in AUTUMN WINDS. Isn’t it a wonderful thing when a spirited, forty-year-old widow finds love with an attractive (and rather mysterious) younger man? 

 

Mother of Pearl by Kellie Coates Gilbert

About the Author:

Kellie Coates Gilbert is a former legal investigator and trial paralegal who writes with a sympathetic, intimate knowledge of how people react under pressure. Kellie’s books tell emotionally poignant stories about women in life-changing circumstances. She writes about messy lives . . . and eternal hope.
Kellie currently makes her home in Dallas, Texas.
Her latest book is the Christian fiction, Mother of Pearl.
Visit her online at www.kelliecoatesgilbert.com.
Connect with her on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/#!/KCoatesGilbert
Like her at Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/kelliecoatesgilbert
Purchase your copy of Mother of Pearl at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Pearl-Kellie-Coates-Gilbert/dp/1426733437/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1348334991&sr=8-2&keywords=mother+of+pearl
Pick up your copy of Mother of Pearl at the publisher’s website: http://www.abingdonpress.com/forms/DynamicContent.aspx?id=160&pageid=698
Purchase your copy of Mother of Pearl at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mother-of-pearl-kellie-coates-gilbert/1108857097

 

About the Book:

Barrie Graeber has two great kids, a loving husband, and a respected job as the high school counselor in her close-knit community. Then, without warning, everything unravels when her teenage daughter, Pearl, is betrayed by friends and lashes out.
Barrie’s attempts to steer her daughter back on course fail. Nothing prepares this mother for the helplessness that follows when Pearl shuts her out . . . or when the unthinkable comes to light about her nemesis, the football coach.
MOTHER OF PEARL is a story that puts absolute truths and convictions to the test. It’s the emotionally riveting tale of a woman who finds she must recognize her own vulnerability and learn to trust in something much bigger.

My Take:  Being a mother of a teenage girl I really could relate to Barrie.  You only want to do what is right for your children even if that means to do the hard thing and fight for them no matter what.  It is a book about trusting in God and giving things over to him.  Sometimes all our intentions won't do any good so we just have to let God take over.  This is a great book by a new to me author and I will be looking for more books by her.  Great Book.  

I received a review copy of this book from Pump Up You book in exchange for my honest opinion. 

It's Monday What Are You Reading?

It's Monday What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila over at Book Journey.  Head on over there to see what others are reading this week.  You just may find your next favorite book.

On The Blog Last Week

First Chapter peak of

River of Mercy by BJ Hoff

Book Review of

At the Feet of Jesus by Joanna Weaver

First Chapter Peak of

Christmas at Holly Hill by Martha Rogers

Book Review of

The Road to Mercy by Kathy Harris

Book Review of

The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer

Book Review of

The Sons of Jude by Brandt Dodson

On the Blog this Week


The Amish Family cookbook by Jerry and Tina Eicher


A Merry Little Christmas by Anita Higman


I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge


Virals by Kathy Reichs


Soul's Gate by James L. Rubart


Mother of Pearl by Kellie Coates Gilbert


Autumn Winds by Charlotte Hubbard


Return by Karen Kingsbury with Gary Smalley

See Sidebar for my current reads

Coming up


Hidden In The Heart by Catherine West


Courting Cate by Leslie Gould


The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann

What's on Your Reading Horizon?

A Merry Little Christmas by Anita Higman

A Merry Little Christmasn by Anita Higman

About A Merry Little Christmas: 

 

Fall in love with this cozy story about two people from different worlds.

Franny Martin is an Oklahoma farm girl who's preparing to spend the holidays alone...again. Then Charlie Landau shows up one day, all wealth and polish, and offers to buy Franny's farm. Franny has no money to speak of, but she is clever and spirited, and she's more than happy to sell the farm and move to the city.

As Sinatra croons from the radio and Christmas descends upon her charming farm, Franny teaches Charlie the curious and sometimes comical ways of country life. In the process, they unearth some discoveries of the heart-that sometimes love comes when you're least ready for it. Will the holidays bring their most impossible dreams within reach?

 

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/eyLJH   

 

Meet Anita:

Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She's been a Barnes & Noble "Author of the Month" for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.

Find out more about Anita at http://www.anitahigman.com.

My Take:  It's time to get into the mood for Christmas.  If you enjoy reading quick Stories around Christmas with a Christmas Theme then this is the book for you.  Just the right length to invest your time in but not too long because let's face it who has alot of time this season of the year.  You will fall in love with the characters in this book and will be glad you took some time away from your holiday preparations to spend some time in Oklahoma with a country girl who is dreaming of the bright lights of the big city and a city boy who just wants to make it on his own terms.  Will they be able to figure out what they both really want.  And is always a good thing to get what you want?

This book is a great way to start the holiday season.

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse Group in exchange for my honest opinion.  

 

The Amish Family Cookbook by Jerry and Tina Eicher A Few Sample Recipes

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card authors are:

Jerry and Tina Eicher

and the book:

The Amish Family Cookbook

Harvest House Publishers; Spi edition (October 1, 2012)

***Special thanks to Ginger Chen for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Jerry Eicher’s bestselling Amish fiction (more than 210,000 in combined sales) includes The Adams County Trilogy, the Hannah’s Heart books, and the Little Valley Series. After a traditional Amish childhood, Jerry taught for two terms in Amish and Mennonite schools in Ohio and Illinois. Since then he’s been involved in church renewal, preaching, and teaching Bible studies. Jerry lives with his wife, Tina, and their four children in Virginia.

Tina Eicher was born and married in the Amish faith, surrounded by a mother and sisters who were great Amish cooks. At fellowship meals and family gatherings, Tina’s dishes receive high praise and usually return empty. She and her husband, Jerry Eicher, author of several bestselling Amish fiction titles, are the parents of four children and live in Virginia.


Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

From bestselling author Jerry Eicher (more than 350,000 books sold) and his wife, Tina, comes this warm and inviting peek into an Amish kitchen, complete with recipes, Amish proverbs, and a dash of Amish humor. Readers will laugh, pray, and eat robustly with The Amish Family Cookbook at their side.

Product Details:
List Price: $ 14.99
Spiral-bound: 272 pages

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers; Spi edition (October 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736943773
ISBN-13: 978-0736943772

AND NOW...A FEW RECIPES FOR YOU TO TRY (CLICK ON PICTURES TO SEE THEM LARGER):